Secondary Stage Several Weeks to Months after the Original Lesion

This stage is marked by the appearance of a non-itchy rash. This rash may appear as rough, red, or reddish brown spots on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet. It is also possible for different rashes to appear in other places on the body. These rashes may appear as:

Diagnosis

Syphilis testing is part of routine prenatal care. This is done to treat and prevent congenital syphilis.

All people who have syphilis should also be tested for HIV.

Treatment

Syphilis can be treated with antibiotics. The type of antibiotic and length of treatment will depend on how long you have been infected. Half of those being treated for syphilis will have fever with headache, muscle aches, and other symptoms during the first 24 hours of treatment.

If you have syphilis of any stage, avoid sexual contact until treatment is complete and the infection is gone. All sex partners should be notified. They will need to be treated as well.

Prevention

To reduce your chance of getting syphilis:

Abstain from vaginal, anal, and oral sex.

Have a mutually monogamous sexual relationship with an uninfected partner.

Use a latex
condom
during vaginal, anal, and oral sex. This is especially important if you are unsure of your partner's status.

Have regular testing for sexually transmitted diseases, especially if you are at increased risk.

Make sure your sexual partner is also treated if you have primary, secondary, or early latent syphilis.

It may not be obvious that a sex partner has syphilis. Do not assume your partner is healthy just because you do not see lesions.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.